Staff Systems Design Engineer – Cellular Radio Systems

InnoPhase Inc., DBA GreenWave Radios™, is at the forefront of innovation in Open RAN digital radios. Our cutting-edge solutions, powered by the Hermes64 RF SoC, are designed to enhance network energy efficiency while dramatically reducing operational expenses, with purpose-built silicon that is the heart of ORAN-based active antenna arrays.

Headquartered in San Diego, California, GreenWave Radios™ has established itself as a pioneer in delivering power-efficient digital-to-RF solutions. The company is supported by a talented team of over 100 engineers spread across four global R&D facilities. With an extensive portfolio of more than 120 global patents, GreenWave Radios™ continues to push the boundaries of radio technology and innovation.

To learn more about GreenWave Radios™ and hear what our employees have to say, visit the GreenWave™ certification profile at GreatPlacetoWork.com or explore our Home - GreenWave Radios website.

GreenWave Radios is building the next generation of Cellular Infrastructure Radio solutions, and we're looking for a Staff Systems Design Engineer to own end-to-end system architecture for our 5G NR and O-RAN product lines. You'll translate real-world RF and protocol requirements into silicon-level specs, working at the intersection of RF, baseband, and massive MIMO — all the way from architecture to lab validation. This is a hands-on, high-impact role at a company that ships.

• Define and own system-level architecture for cellular SoCs, including link budgets, system partitioning, mMIMO beamforming chain design, and performance trade-off analysis
• Architect and specify O-RAN compliant subsystems — define split options (7.2x, 6, 8), fronthaul interface requirements, and RU/DU functional partitioning in coordination with protocol and firmware teams
• Develop and maintain detailed system specifications covering RF front-end, baseband, clocking, power, and RF/digital interfaces, serving as the authoritative reference for IC design teams
• Build and run system simulations (RF link, mMIMO beamforming gain, interference, EVM, sensitivity, dynamic range) to validate architecture decisions before tape-out
• Lead lab bring-up and characterization of prototype hardware, including hands-on use of spectrum analyzers, signal generators, VNAs, oscilloscopes, and protocol analyzers to validate RF and system performance
• Define test plans and acceptance criteria for system-level performance, and work closely with test engineers to implement automated measurement flows in the lab
• Partner with RF, analog, digital, and firmware teams to resolve cross-domain issues discovered in simulation or lab — own the path from root cause to silicon fix
• Drive system-level compliance verification against 3GPP 5G NR and O-RAN Alliance specifications, and represent GreenWave in standards and alliance working group discussions where applicable
• Produce clear architecture documents, design review materials, and technical trade-off memos that inform product and executive decisions
• Assist in mentoring junior systems engineers; establish best practices for system modeling, specification, and lab methodology

• 8+ years of hands-on experience in cellular systems engineering (LTE, 5G NR)
• BS in Electrical Engineering required; MS or PhD strongly preferred
• Deep expertise in 5G NR system architecture — PHY layer, numerology, beamforming, and massive MIMO (mMIMO) antenna system design
• Experience with O-RAN architecture: functional split options, O-RU/O-DU/O-CU definitions, fronthaul (eCPRI/CPRI) specifications, and O-RAN Alliance WG4/WG7 compliance
• Proven lab experience — comfortable operating and interpreting data from spectrum analyzers, signal generators, VNAs, oscilloscopes, and RF test equipment in a prototype bring-up environment
• Hands-on experience with Cadence tools (Virtuoso, Spectre, or AWR Microwave Office) for schematic capture, simulation, or system-level modeling
• Experience authoring system-level specifications and architecture documents that drive IC design decisions
• Strong fundamentals in RF system analysis: noise figure, linearity (IIP3, P1dB), dynamic range, phase noise, spurious, and link budget methodology
• Familiarity with 3GPP 5G NR standards testing and compliance methodology (TR 38.803, TS 38.104, etc.)

• Experience with MATLAB or Python for system-level simulation, mMIMO beamforming modeling, or automated test scripting
• Exposure to mixed-signal or RFIC design in advanced CMOS nodes (28nm, 22nm, 16nm FD-SOI or FinFET)
• Familiarity with O-RAN open-source platforms or test tools (e.g., OSC, OpenAirInterface, ORAN-SC) for integration and conformance testing
• Familiarity with AI-assisted test data analysis and ML-based signal/power integrity prediction tools to catch issues earlier in the design cycle
• Experience using Claude Code or similar AI coding assistants to accelerate design scripting, simulation automation, or documentation — familiarity with agentic AI tools for engineering workflows is a genuine differentiator
• Experience applying AI to technical documentation workflows — LLM-assisted datasheet parsing, specification drafting, or design review summarization
• General comfort adopting AI-augmented workflows to boost design productivity — this is a plus, not a requirement, for the right hands-on cellular systems expert

At InnoPhase, dba GreenWave Radios, our total rewards package includes both a competitive base salary and pre-IPO stock options. The anticipated base salary range for this position is $180,000 to $200,000 annually. Actual compensation will be determined based on several factors, including market conditions, interview performance, skills, qualifications, experience, education, and geographic location. In addition to base pay, employees are eligible for a comprehensive benefits package. For detailed information on our benefits programs, please visit our website.